This was the first wedding I ever shot. The pressure was on! Overall, I was very happy with what I captured, and so was the couple. I learned a lot of things in the process, which only made me a better photographer. Most vividly, I learned the importance of planning and being able to capture magic on the fly. I met the couple months before the wedding, talking to them, understanding their personalities etc. I also wanted to hear their stories — how they met. A love story indeed! Their first date was the ever-so-stereotypical, and yet utterly special, mini golf date. High school sweethearts, they’ve stayed together ever since. Knowing this story, my brain juices flowed in how I was going to capture the wedding.
I went out to the wedding venue a couple days before the actual wedding, scoping the area out. This probably was the smartest thing I’ve ever done in photography. I immediately jotted down ideas. When the wedding actually came, there was no time to think. I’m fortunate I took copious notes and timed my photo shoots accordingly, before the wedding. I did my homework (#nerd). I was tasked to capture the wedding parties, the bridesmaids getting ready, groomsmen, bridesmaids, the ceremony itself, the reception — and whole bunch of other things I can’t remember! Weddings are chaos. But out of chaos, a new sun is born and new life begins. The wedding was very beautiful. My goal was to capture the essence of that beauty in my photos. I believe I did that.
This is my favorite photo I capture of the groom and bride. When I first met them months before, I took note of their different yet symbiotic personalities. The bride was one of the nicest and bubbliest people I’ve ever met. The groom was one of the most devoted and reserved people I’ve ever met. Of course, these trite words don’t even begin to scratch the surface of these individuals’ unique personalities. When I had to visually capture them together, I wanted to try capturing something of their personalities. I believe I did that. I remember, when I sat them both down on the bench I previously scoped out, the groom immediately went into this awkward smile you’d only see in cheesy high school yearbooks. I told him, ‘stop it! be you. Be the badass dad that you are. Be the proud Texan I see. Be the devoted man that you have been and that you will always be. Don’t force it, just be what feels comfortable.’ And as for the bride, well, I asked her, ‘can I see that beautiful smile of yours? Perfect.’ And I captured the photo.
J.R. Photographs 